On October 1, 2013, the United States federal government entered a shutdown suspending discretionary services deemed “non-essential” by the Antideficiency Act. As a result of the government’s failure to enact regular appropriations or a continuing resolution for the 2014 fiscal year, appropriations have lapsed and approximately 800,000 federal employees have been indefinitely furloughed without pay, while a further 1.3 million “essential” employees are required to report to work indefinitely but will not be paid until a budget is passed.

During the shutdown, 8 million+ low-income pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and infants and children under the age of five (53% of all American infants) will no longer receive healthcare and nutrition assistance under WIC, but John Boehner will continue to collect his $223,500 salary, his $1,000,000+ MRA and enjoy free, tax payer-funded health care.